Friday, August 11, 2006

Pneumothorax


Pneumothorax as everyone know is the medical emergency especially when patient 's respiration is compromised.
Pneumothorax means air in the plural space.
Pneumothorax can be divided in primary or secondary causes.
Symptom for it is tachypnoeic,dyspnoeic and chest discomfort.
Primary pneumothorax usually happens in healthy patient without any lung pathology.
Usually happens in tall and thin patient.
secondary pneumothorax usually happens in patient with underlying pathology.
For example COAD(chronic obstrutive airway disease),cystic fibrosis,status asthmaticus
Infective lung disease such asPCP,necrotising pneumonia.interstitial lund disease such as sarcoidosis,tuberous sclerosis, idiopathic pul fibrosis.
connective tissue:Ankylosis spondylitis,polymyositis
Ca of lung,sarcoma
Treatment of choice is observation if pneumothorax is small
If it is big, insert chest tube
if small pneumothorax with severe resp distress, chest tube also need to be inserted.
pneumothorax resolve by 1.25% each day without intervention

No comments: